ZOOLOGY A.ND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 583 



Atypical Spermatozoa in Moths.* — J. Bronte Gatenby has studied 

 the degenerate (apyrene) sperm-formation in moths with reference to the 

 various bodies composing; the spermatozoon. He worked with Smerinthus 

 populi, Pieris brassicse, Fygsera bucephala, and Porthesia similis. 

 Atypical spermatozoa have been called " apyrene " and " oligopyrene " 

 according to supposed absence of nuclear matter or its presence in 

 small quantity. 



Degeneration of cell elements takes place at all stages of spermato- 

 genesis. Degeneration of the chromosomes just after the second 

 maturation division leads to what have been called apyrene spermatozoa. 

 But "apyrene," "oligopyrene," and "eupyrene" spermatozoa are not 

 separate kinds in Lepidoptera, since all intermediate stages are to be 

 found. It is suggested, indeed, that in Lepidoptera these terms lack 

 the significance which has been attached to them. 



Degeneration may set in just when the cell elements are about to 

 be properly orientated before spermiogenesis, and in such cases the 

 nucleus and head centrosome fail to join. The former sinks down the 

 lengthening sperm. The acroblasts almost always accompany the nucleus, 

 and form a normal acrosome. In degenerate spermatids where the 

 chromosomes fail to join up normally, the macromitosome (Nebenkern) 

 may be normally formed. The macromitosome may become normally 

 elongated in sperms in which the nuclei are degenerate. It is 

 suggested that the abnormal sperms are unable to bring about 

 fertilization. 



Individual nuclei can be reconstituted from separate chromosomes. 

 At least partial interdependence of some cell elements is indicated by 

 degenerate stages. Two centres of force, lodged respectively in the 

 nucleus and in the centrosome, seem to be present. 



Life-history of Piezodorus lituratus.f — E. A. Butler has studied 

 this Pentatomid, which is very common on furze bushes. The drum- 

 shaped eggs are laid on the unopened flower-buds, in a double row along 

 one of the two sepals. On hatching, a circular lid is pushed up at one 

 side, and there is what Fabre regarded as a spring. The larvae are at 

 first orange, with red eyes and a red patch on the back of the abdomen ; 

 they become brown and then black in front. The details of coloration 

 are described. There are in all five instars, and the changes chiefly 

 concern the thoracic segments. At each ecdysis the cuticle splits longi- 

 tudinally along the mid-dorsal line of the thorax, and also transversely 

 between head and pronotum. The cephalic sclerite remains entire. 

 Not only are the limbs and antenna drawn out of their sheaths, but 

 also the rostrum and its setEe, and the principal tracheae. Sexual union 

 occurs in spring, and the male dies soon afterwards. Batches of eggs are 

 laid at intervals through the summer. There is a green variety of larva 

 and adult. Inside the egg-shells there is often found a minute Hymen- 

 opterous Proctotrupid, which hatches three weeks after the Pentatomid 

 and eats the lid of the egg-envelope. 



* Quart. Journ. Micr. Sci., Ixii. (1917) pp. 465-88 (1 pi.). 



t Entomologist's Monthly Magazine, liii. (1917) pp. 34-9 (2 figs.). 



